Alok Mukhopadhyay

With a strong inclination towards development at the grassroots since the beginning of his career, Alok Mukhopadhyay has dedicated more than fifty years of his life to public health issues and humanitarian work. His rich contributions to public policy in health sector and capacity building of NGOs in India have impacted millions of lives. He has developed quite a few community health & development models while being associated with many renowned organizations within India and abroad in various capacities.

In the past, Mr. Mukhopadhyay was associated with Oxfam, U.K. for South Asia as the Chief Executive for a decade, during which he monitored numerous multi-faceted development programmes in India, Nepal and Bhutan. As the Chief Executive in Voluntary Health Association of India for almost 30 years, he worked closely with the Government of India to initiate and implement several health and development programmes in the most remote areas of the country. Currently, he is the Chairman, Advisory Committee, VHAI. He is also the Convener of  Independent Commission on Development & Health in India (ICDHI) which closely works with the Prime Minister’s Office to assess development and health situation of the country through policy research and analysis.

Mr. Mukhopadhyay has taken up socially enriching and sustainable initiatives like KHOJ to reach out to poorest and developmentally challenged pockets of India; SHEHJAR, a development and peace initiative in strife affected Kashmir; and setting up Nagrik Ekta Manch to rescue and rehabilitate thousands of Sikh families displaced during the 1984 communal riots in Delhi. Through APARAJITA he sought relief, rehabilitation for the cyclone affected areas of Orissa and earthquake affected areas of Gujarat, benefiting more than 100,000 families.

Alok Mukhopadhyay has provided his expertise to a variety of government bodies. He is the member of Central Council of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; Governing Body, National Institute of Health & Family Welfare; National AIDS Control Board; Empowered Action Group, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Advisory Committee, National Disaster Management Authority, and various other vital committees. He has also contributed to many international organizations including South-East Asia Primary Health Care Innovations Network (SEAPIN); World Health Organization, World Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute as a Senior Advisor; and as Member, Board of Trustees, International Union of Health Promotion and Education. He is the Founder of South-South Solidarity, which promotes cooperation between South Countries as well as resource center for Primary Health Care in Nepal; Founder of CHARKHA, a development communication network; and Director of “Gallery Freedom” which builds a bridge between Painters, Sculptors and the Development work.

He is author of State of India’s Health; First Report of Independent Commission on Development & Health in India which was officially released by Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihar Vajpayee; ROOTS, Roadmap to India’s Health & many other national & international publications.

He is writer, producer & director of many films on social issues such as highly acclaimed film ANANT on HIV/AIDS, aired by the major TV Channels in India and abroad; popular TV serials- KASBA & Sheila; Distant Thunder; Health in all Policies; Promise to Keep-  a film made for WHO World Conference on Social Determinants and Health, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil etc.

He is recipient of many national and international awards.